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Return of the Native (with apologies to Hardy) and some Holiday running.

2012-01-02T02:57:00.001-08:00

E374 was the first locomotive, and one of the first pieces of rollingstock I built for Glenburn back in 2008. She did most of the early running of goods trains and was the test locomotive for most of the trackwork. She was always pretty low on power though, primarily through not having room for decent weighting, and my not wanting to strain the delicate mechanism she was built on. So, as more powerful locomotives became available, she was rendered firstly to just yard shunting work, then the larger loads being shifted in the yard obsoleted her there and she ran the track cleaning train for a while. But it has been some time since her last real (revenue) run. Some space has become available in the yard with the removal of the suburban stock to the new sidings recently (see earlier post below) so I lightly oiled her and placed her back on the layout for yard shunting tasks and occasional trip working. Todays No. 10a (Up goods ex-Warbutton) was light enough that I called her up for the gig. So here E374 is once again taking the stage with a pretty eclectic consist, such have the cards delivered, but she handled it in her stride. Given she's a small tank with limited range, we'll have to imagine that for some reason she has taken over the run somewhere closer to the city.

Holiday break means some time for running, below are a couple of pictures of some of the workings.

As people leave for holidays and work numbers reduce, the "off peak" period extends, and the VR ever watchful of costs during this time reduces train sizes accordingly. This then becomes a common sight, two car suburban units form both Up and Dn services:

Ah, the elegance of an interwar country passenger train! D1 heads No. 31a with consist XYZ+G+B+C consist on the Dn through Glenburn..............

.............And here seen working up Glenburn bank.

1100 rolls No. 25a (Dn suburban goods) into Lildale yard at the end of it's outward journey from Melbourne. Given operational requirements (read my big hand with an coupling/uncoupling tool....), I probably won't ever wire the yard, perhaps just the yard approaches, so I'll keep imagining the wires.

Yes, I still have'nt enough courage to repaint the boxcab, so here she is, still a rolling anachronism in the blue gold (which most true E class enthusiasts seem to rate a very poor 2nd to the all black livery for the E), heading No.14a (suburban goods ex Fern Gully) back toward Melbourne. All is not as it seems here - what appears to be a city bound Mixed with an AB car towards the rear actually is'nt. The AM Electric Motor needed to be transferred back to town, and was attached at the rear of an Up Goods.

Jesus.

2011-12-02T00:59:00.000-08:00

.......Because quite frankly if I have any skill in modelling it's a gift from Him.

I am no fan of cameos but....

2011-11-24T03:25:00.001-08:00

I have completed the cottages for Faith St recently, seen above. Don't worry too much about the white wall at the front of the layout, this will be directly attached to the fascia. It's just my opinion however I reckon cameos on layouts can be way overplayed, and in many cases their absence is the best path to a realistic scene. However in the interwar period there is one entirely Australian and appropriate cameo that I cannot avoid. True of many generations both before and since, a group of children playing cricket in the back lane with improvised stumps and field is too hard to resist, hence the below scene in the lane between the houses in Hope and Faith streets.

Raw Cottages & the Why and the Where

2011-11-06T03:35:00.000-08:00

As shown briefly in the last update the first houses for Faith Street are to be a single storey terraced pair of cottages. The location defines the style - the cottages are directly opposite Qualmann's Warehouse, and as the warehouse is bluestone it pre-dates these cottages. It is unlikely that moderate-to-expensive houses would be built directly opposite such a location with its noise, traffic and industrial use. So these are humble workers cottages, not the more expensive houses seen in Hope St. One block makes all the difference! For the prototype I searched through my pictures from my trips to inner east Melbourne but didn't have any suitable candidates, so chose the following located in a similar area but in this case in North Fitzroy.

Picture: Picture Victoria

The descriptive by Picture Victoria is very direct, for the date of the photo, 1948, they are labelled as "poor". The materials are simpler, they are lighter on the decoration seen in Hope St, and they are'nt big - there are four houses in the block above. This fitted the bill for the location. nb. the building still survives at 177-183 Rae St. Must drive past one day! It's funny how times change, I reckon these would make a great place to live, particularly so close to the city, and so do many other people judging by the value of these kinds of properties today.

So to the model....As mentioned in the last post, construction is primarily styrene, with some other materials for detailing. I only have room for two cottages, and here they are shown initially "in the raw" but on their future location in Faith St, and two closer pictures. As can be seen, in line with their being more modest housing, the land space is smaller than Hope St also. The side the two first pictures are taken from deliberately is plain and flat as it will butt up and adjoin the fascia, thereby intimating continuation of the building.

Next step is painting/weathering and embedding with appropriate gardens/yards.

Business as usual & developments in Faith St

2011-10-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

D4 277 assembles the down afternoon goods in Melbourne Yard....

......and is seen later on rolling the unusually short consist upgrade into Glenburn.

Earlier in the day, around the lunchtime off-peak, 1100 preceded the D4 on 21a goods to Ringwood, here seen humming through Glenburn while a two car swing door set accelerates from the Up platform Melbourne-bound.

I've started the next building for Faith St, this one being two of a wooden three cottage row. Build is mostly styrene at this stage. Front above and rear view below.

A Colour Blind Spot.

2011-09-19T02:58:00.000-07:00

Readers of the Blog will know one of the challenges I have faced is ascertaining colour in this era before widespread colour photography. I have made it a bit of a passion to try to the best of my ability to render all aspects of "Glenburn" whether it be Swing Door stock, buildings, people's clothes or anything else. I have researched and coloured to try and best replicate how things may have looked. However I have recently discovered one rather large oversight. Wagons. A long time ago when I built "Cudgewa" a colour was recommended to me for goods rollingstock of the very late VR era which I was then modelling. It worked well and I used it thoroughly. When I started "Glenburn", it did'nt occur to me to check whether goods wagon stock was a different colour. References in old literature to "wagon red" did'nt challenge my assumption, nor did the lack of VR paint records for the period. However there are colour pictures around at the early end of colour recording (generally early 1950s) that show quite a different colour to that of the later era. I saw many of these but it never registered. It was a modelling blind spot for me. Funny really, given the effort I went to to ascertain every other colour! Recently the penny started to drop and I corresponded with a couple of experts on the matter who very kindly and comprehensively advised on what colour the stock should be. The colour is Deep Indian Red, weathering fairly quickly to a mid chocolate brown. So, I have started the long process of repainting 36 goods wagons into variations somewhere between the relatively newly painted stock that looks like this:
To a more weathered colour like this:

There will be variations in between these two colours (and perhaps one or two more weathered) because in that era before the good colour holding paints we have today, paints really did'nt hold colour as well.

To illustrate the difference, here are two akin examples in the previous (incorrect) livery:

So, the process begins, and slowly the pictures in the "Rollingstock" page will be replaced with the new versions. And while I'm there, it's opportune to upgrade the stock where necessary such as the removal of those oversize handrails on some of my early builds - an example if one were needed of how our modelling improves, and we push ourselves to better standards, these were Ok several years ago.

I'm board!!

2011-08-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

A bit of amateur carpentry with thin ply sets up the layout for the next stage of growth. Always surprises me how a bit of simple work seems to make a layout look more finished, even though it is very unfinished! The gap in the backdrop is to allow the passenger sidings, seen below in use between suburban runs, pre-backdrop:

It's not over 'til.....

2011-08-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Qualmann's Ware/Store house is pretty much complete now, however the major sections aren't attached nor is it fixed into the layout pending quite a bit of surrounding work (including backscene, rear scenery, fascia, overhead wiring, signalling the siding etc. etc....!) that needs to be done. Good enough for a picture, though sans wires means the siding needs to be worked by steam.

Protection & Delivery.

2011-08-12T06:02:00.001-07:00

Work on the Qualmann Warehouse precinct continues....The private siding serving the Warehouse joins the VR at the point visible here, which then joins the Dn main. As such, with wagons regularly stabled there, it needs the protection afforded in these situations. The above picture shows the derail arrangements, and also the backs of both the "End of wire" inverted star (a scale 50ft from end of wire per specification, for when the wiring arrives....), and the "Engines must not pass this board" sign which is immediately prior to the warehouse, below. I have'nt decided yet whether this derail is controlled by hand lever or from the box, hence the absence of this detail. My thanks to Phil Dunn for diagrams of the derail, and information from the VR Enthusiast forum regarding appropriate protection arrangements in suburban areas.

Beyond the excellent kits provided by the US maker Jordan, pickings are quite slim for interwar road vehicles, particularly trucks. Some exceptions were the excellent models made some years ago by Roskopf, a small German company. These models respond well to a bit of work, and look the part for the more traditional truck types of the era. While they have been out of production for quite a few years, they are still available from some of the 2nd hand sellers in Europe. The picture below shows the delivery truck following detailing (repaint, flush windscreens, removing one set of rear wheels, decalling, weathering) which will be parked outside the warehouse, with a comparative of an unmodified Roskopf truck.

Here she is "hooning" down Glenburn Rd at 30mph heading for the warehouse.

Err Houston....we have a problem....

2011-08-05T21:00:00.001-07:00

Anything wrong here? The two lines on the right of this shot are the Up and Dn main, here passing the yard (I haven't named it yet as it serves several purposes) on one of the unscenicked sections of the layout. There's a wee gap on the Up (furthest right) line! I had a point there which I had suspected was a bit iffy, and while testing it out as an access point for some more stabling found it was definitely iffy. Fixed down, there was nothing to do but wrench it out and I took a fair section of the straight also, as this wasn't my best laid track. Murphy's Law dictates any work of this kind always has to be in the least accessible spot, and hence that's a 600mm reach across the yard....so I thought it pertinent to empty the yard before attempting the replacement. Once my stock is on the layout I prefer not to touch it too much, so rather than lift it, I ran it all to the other end of the layout which explains why what looks like a major signalling overun problem has occured in the shot below. No doubt VR has arranged a replacement bus service as no-one is catching a train at Glenburn today....

Something to Ware...

2011-07-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Whereas Hope St was residential, the next street closer to Melbourne, Faith St will be predominantly commercial. The first building for the street is the Qualmann Warehouse, which has been commenced . The building fascia is formed from the frontages of the Faller "North German Warehouse" (kit picture above) suitably modified, with body built out in cardboard and Noch stonewalling. Where appropriate, the building will be clad in corrugated card. The step design, visible in the pictures owes itself to placement bridging a rise in the layout height across the plan. Much more work to go before she's ready to place on the layout, will post updates as she progresses.

Faith, abridged.

2011-07-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

Have laid the roadwork for the next street on the layout, Faith St, and as the line is still elevated another VR girder bridge is required, again a modified Atlas girder as per Hope St though slightly longer to bridge the broader commercial street here.It also again has the typical VR brick and bluestone abutments. The omission of one of the Up side pillars is temporary pending decision on the scenery option taken over there. Presumably laid down at the same time, Faith St has the same bluestone edge pavers broken by a couple of driveways for the Qualmann Pty Ltd Warehouse which is still being built....This section is the final elevated road before the landform rises up to track level and beyond. Much building of buildings now to be done to fill this void....

Blue & Gold on 37a.

2011-07-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Before I get going two notes:

1. The weekend afternoon goods is generally allocated to the Steeple Cab, however she's in for replacement of her marker lights to something more prototypical, so I fitted hooks to the Boxcab and brought her out as substitute. She's still blue & gold as I have'nt yet screwed up the courage (nor had the time) to repaint her in the era appropriate black, so please overlook this!

2. The Saturday afternoon Dn Goods on the Healesville line around this time was number 37. I have chosen 37a then as a resemblance, rather than modelling that actual goods, given "Glenburn" is built and run on the same basis.

So to the goods....given it was the boxcab's first "production" run I took some pictures along the way......

While suburban pass runs are slightly less frequent on the weekend, the Goods still needs to keep her heels moving, but not as fast as this shot of her having just left the boundaries of Jolimont Yard would indicate - for most of the trip East she'll be limited to 20-30mph.

Having arrived at her first shunt location, Qualmann Coolstores just outside Burnleigh, 37a has drawn up clear of the siding and is here shown pushing the consist back into 1 Road, from which she will drop/pick up wagons in accordance with the Rules for the siding, with numbers of wagons exchanged defined by drawing random cards.

Having completed her work at the Coolstore, 37a is on the way again, here seen passing one of the suburban yards between Burnleigh and Glenburn with the changed load.

The cards at the coolstores, having fallen heavily on this run, 37a only was permitted to drop a single short T van, however gained four vans, bringing her load up to 11 (=12) wagons + brake, she is here slowed by the bank running Dn into Glenburn station, holding the speed slow to prepare for her next work just beyond the station.

Once again the cards have fallen heavily with a complete replacement of the wagons dropped in the yard last weekend, with 6 (=7) of her own. Here 37a's E is shown pushing the new wagons into Glenburn Yard, having marshalled the removed wagons into the consist as her first working for the siding. Fortunately she's well protected in this move by Glenburn's signals (imagined........must get to them!).

Having left the sidings behind, 37a builds up speed for the remainder of the run out to her terminating point at Lildale.

Owing to the changes at the sidings, 37a now has a completely different consist from that she left Melbourne with under an hour ago, with the only original member of her consist apart from the boxcab being...
...... Z21 wobbling along on the rear.

After some smooth but not fast running, here's 37a having arrived at Lildale, stabled between suburban electric units awaiting their runs back to Melbourne. And so ends a fairly typical run for the weekend Dn afternoon goods. After crib, the crew will run around, place the van on the opposite end of the train and await a path to scurry back to Melbourne.

Polchromatic finale.

2011-06-18T00:45:00.000-07:00

The last open space in Hope St was big enough for a couple of terraces, so I built this pair to a typical Melbourne style. As can be seen in the "in build" shot above, the base building is double-bracketed styrene (I don't know this materials' real name - two ribbed sheets with seperating strips, often used for keeping papers flat). This is then overlaid with brick sheet, card and wood with putty to form where needed. Wall details are cut/shaped brickwork. Roofing is Superquick finished slate with a wash of dark brown to get it closer to the usual colour. Oubuildings and fencing are also scratchbuilt in wood and card. Painting includes representing the polychromatic brickwork that is such a feature of these terraces across the older suburbs of Melbourne, I chose one of the more "standard" patterns, not wanting to overplay the building's role in the street, but some of the prototypes showed excellent artwork in their application of various coloured bricks. I also decided to illustrate the use of better/finished dark brickwork for the frontis, with standard building brick for the remainder of the buildings. Windows are a combination of spares from the box and Grandt line, chimneys are modified Ian Lindsay. These two finish Hope St, might have a bit of a break before I start the next street......

Finally an end to the Steeplechase....

2011-04-27T01:40:00.000-07:00

Have finally completed the Steeple Cab for "Glenburn", she was an original part of my thinking for the layout so it's great to have got here! If you're interested, there's pictures and details of her build at:

http://vrsuburbanrollingstock.blogspot.com/2011/01/electric-loco-steeple-cab.html

25 April 2011 - Lest We Forget

2011-04-25T02:57:00.000-07:00

My traditional Anzac Day Special, this year hauled by the D1, taken while stationed at Glenburn for the day. I did a bit of a write up of this tradition when I built the F horsebox that here with bracketing Z vans forms the train. If you're interested, it's at (click link below):

http://vrsuburbanrollingstock.blogspot.com/2009/11/f-class-horsebox.html

Australian Vernacular

2011-03-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

The next house for Hope St is a detailed LJ Models card kit of a quite typical early Australian suburban house. Once again, the producers' comment that some detailing lifts these kits is born out with simple detailing - real corrugated roof, cast chimneys, wooden steps and posts, cast window frames, etched cast iron work and wooden roof supports. I think it shapes up pretty well opposite the scratchbuilt pair of cottages, and is a very good result for a rather inexpensive kit.

Power to the People

2011-03-10T02:58:00.000-08:00

Funny things telegraph poles, they are such a common feature of suburban streets as to be virtually invisible, however leave them out of a model and something is clearly missing, or put in some generic item, and there is something quite amiss! Hence these three poles have built in the style of the day and location and emplaced in Hope St, along with rudimentary wiring - just enough to garner the impression of what they're doing there. The means of carrying power under the overbridge is per prototype.

Un-rare Workings

2011-01-30T03:03:00.000-08:00

One of the attractions of early era modelling is the enormous variety of workings that can be run. Beyond the typical (which by todays standards had huge variety), the following three workings have occured in the course of operations on Glenburn, and show just some of the working types that would have been less than typical, but far from rare in the period modelled.

E Class is called upon to working a rag tag assortment of stock back to Melbourne.

Twin swing door Motors power an Up short E train, crossing the outward bound midday Parcels Motor.
A Parcels Motor is called upon to run the Dn afternoon goods, here sweeping through Glenburn. This load will hardly tax her, single motors were rated for quite a few more wagons.

Another Celebration!

2011-01-15T19:19:00.001-08:00

Like the E Class Electric, the D4 has been a long time coming, so I took some pictures to celebrate her arrival.

No.4 or something like that...

2010-11-25T03:17:00.001-08:00

The second house for Hope St (not sure of the numbering yet...), built the same way as it's fellow though with room for an extension at the rear, more garden and room even for a chicken shed....just awaiting some chooks!

Set Up Celebration

2010-10-26T02:08:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my acquiring the E Class, I set up a couple of shots. Keen observers will note the E does'nt yet have couplers, hence this was all posed.

Hope springs eternal...

2010-10-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

Have started construction on Hope St, Glenburn. The first house here is scratchbuilt in styrene, card and wood with Ian Lindsay chimneys. This type of house is quite common around Glenferrie and Auburn stations, the prototype picture being taken near Glenferrie.

A bit carried away.

2010-10-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Completion of my first Tait Motor has led to a bit of a photo-shoot....

Figuratively speaking.....

2010-09-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

I've lamented the apparent lack of interwar figures before in this Blog, however I recently found a supplier in Europe. Some of the figures are above, some will need repainting to dull them down a tad but I'm impressed overall. As such, I have finally been able to add some passengers to Glenburn, and replace the fruiterer who I've always thought looked a bit too modern. Signature elements for this period are full suits for chaps and cloche hats and low hemlines for ladies, and of course everyone wears a hat.

Strung Up!

2010-09-03T03:54:00.000-07:00

Have extended the wiring a further section (only about 30 to go to circumnavigate the room...), this one a bit interesting in that it includes one of the crossovers between Up (left) and Dn (right) lines. As such I have strung a third catenary line between through the section covering the crossover.

Original Inspiration

2010-09-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Like any model railway, "Glenburn" had many inspirations preparatory to building. One of the more significant was inspired by a Rod Slogget photo of double swingdoor motors hauling a goods - a not-so-infrequent occurence during the interwar era. Here's such a train with two motors substituting for the regular electric loco which was called away....(I have'nt built it yet).

One scratchbuild looks at some others....

2010-08-13T04:29:00.001-07:00

Louise holds up Rachel (5 months) for a spot of trainspotting - swing door set zooms into Glenburn

Up side of Glenburn

2010-08-13T04:08:00.001-07:00

Work has started on building out the suburb of Glenburn in the Up direction.

LJ's kits note they come up well with a bit of work, and that was my experience - they're both relatively inexpensive and do respond well to some work - here this includes reversing the sides for a plain finish, adding corrugated roofing, a cast chimney and wooden landing and stairs

She's placed on the other side of All Saints facing the lane.

Hope St is bridged by another VR girder bridge, this time smaller girders per prototype practice for smaller openings.

Less detail on the "other side" of the line, but still needs some attention.

Behind the scenes.....

2010-07-26T05:31:00.001-07:00

A change from the usual, a few pictures behind the scenes of Glenburn Operations:

A "Will-become-a-V-Class" on the Saturday afternoon Dn goods is held at a crossover as a D1 on the Up suburban pick-up goods crosses the Dn lines to the Up starting it's trip back to Melbourne.

The E and XYZ deputising as the breakdown train is stabled in Camwell sidings as the crew go to work on the IA wagon nearest camera which dropped it's coupling while shunting in the yard.

Yard shunter E Class at work breaking up the weekend's goods workings, and reassembling them into new trains. I have established a sequencing pattern between the various goods services to ensure prototypical movement of wagons, continuing rotation of rollingstock, and that trains running on the layout have a reason for doing so. Low lighting is deliberate here simulating the nighttime shunting that used to take place in Melbourne yard. Passenger sets lay over between runs on 2 and 3 road.

Creating a scene at the back!

2010-06-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

Some amateur artwork at the back of the layout looks a bit better than the plain white of before. (Nb. The above pictures can be clicked on for a larger version)

2 years difference....

2010-05-10T04:08:00.001-07:00

(The above photo can be clicked on for a larger version)

Recent completion of the station roof allowed the second catenary line to finally be added, and completion of major tasks on this first (Glenburn) section of my Interwar Inner Melbourne Suburban layout. The early photos (as per the first post: http://vrlatestupdates.blogspot.com/2008/04/tell-him-hes-dreaming.html) show the formative stages just over two years ago, from similar angles.

Opportunity was taken to add more detailing - in this case train length indicators mounted prototypically on both the awning and lamps, in these cases showing drivers of 2 and 4 car trains where to stop.

Fiddler on the Roof.

2010-03-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, the last major task at Glenburn station is the roofing for both the up and down platforms. These in progress shots show the completed major structure (Evergreen styrene corrugated sheet with styrene bracing) prior to detailing, and temporarily put in position to see how it looks - starting to look like a station! (nb. the girder supports have since been straightened!)

Don't fence me in.

2010-02-07T03:59:00.001-08:00

Fencing of the Up platform (that's a big drop over the side!), some of which is billboards per prototype, and completion of the cupola with protective spear fencing.

iTrain 1.2010 (with apologies to Vegemite)

2010-01-31T04:25:00.001-08:00

I have been looking to replicate the classic interwar jumble of I wagon types on a goods, and now have just enough to do it justice. D2 heads up a rake of IA (Tommy Bent)+IB (wood)+IB (steel)+I (steel) +IA (Shandy - wood/steel)+IB (wood)+ I (Tommy Bent) + IG (steel, drop door) + IB (wood).

........................Ltd

2010-01-11T04:43:00.001-08:00

Behind the Up platform I had originally intended to place a couple of house frontages however a closer at Glenferrie/Auburn showed the immediate buildings to be non-residential so I put together this fascia from spare Rix parts, scrap details and corrugated iron. Being so close to the backscene there's no room for a name!

Up......Stationary!

2010-01-06T04:28:00.001-08:00

This Christmas break I concentrated on building the Up Station building which is now (finally!) complete. Building uses Walthers styrene brickwork, Victorian Model Railway Society Marseilles tiles with styrene and wood detailing. The building will be attached to the Up platform (also completed during the break - again finally!) once the surrounding area has been finished.

Details, details..............

2010-01-06T04:14:00.000-08:00

Not sure whether these two interwar types are chatting or disagreeing.

A "Work in Progress" view of the subway lantern on Glenburn's Up platform. When complete it will be placed over the black patch simulating the opening. The lantern has a styrene frame with clear perspex windows that have been deliberately frosted using Dullcote.

A rather modified Fiat 612 serves as a factory delivery truck.

The protective railing covering the Up platform subway ramp.

Postbox on Glenburn Rd. courtesy of a cut-down UK model.

I have'nt been able to find a decent version of this pattern of VR fencing so it's scratchbuilt from styrene, this is the Dn end of the Up platform.

The spear fencing protecting the buildings as per prototype - this from a Scalelink etch.

Some chaps backdated to interwar styling - amazingly none of the HO scale figure makers seem to cater for this period so modification to figures clothing, poses and colours is needed.

Consistency

2009-12-21T01:36:00.000-08:00

M-D consist, common on suburban branches and on lighter patronaged lines during off-peak

M-T-D consist, as used on lighter graded lines

M-D-T-M consist, a standard 4 car set for lighter patronaged lines and off peak services

M-M consist which seems to have been used as a "locomotive" primarily for train haulage like those below

M-M consist providing an "E train" service, in this case with a short G-B-C consist for an outer suburban or country destination beyond the wires

M-M consist providing goods haulage capability

Mr Clapp would be happy.

2009-12-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

Some further detail behind the Up platform - The VR made significant advertising revenue from billboards such as these during this era, and the posters I have used are from the period - including the opportunity to "Fly with Ulm" referring to flights by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's co-pilot.

Wal Larsen

2009-11-25T04:15:00.000-08:00

I was deeply saddened recently to hear of Wal Larsen's passing. Wal was one of the stalwarts amongst Victorian Railways early enthusiasts. He was also a faithful and devoted Christian. While I had known for some time Wal was not well, this was a sad moment, not sad for him because I know he is with the God he worshipped throughout his life, but sad for us to have lost such a generous link with the past.

I never met Wal however I contacted Wal many years ago seeking information about the Cudgewa line. He was happy to take the call of a stranger and generously help how he could. He had'nt visited the area much but that did'nt stop him forwarding me a couple of pages of recollections he had accumulated over the years.

I tried to contact him again more recently regarding liveries. His son kindly apologised noting he was'nt well enough to help. I knew it must have been serious to stop such a spirit from helping.

Wal lives on for enthusiasts through the books and articles he published, none more so for me than his "Change Here For", perhaps the seminal work on how the Victorian Railways was to an enthusiast in the late 1930's and 1940's. His recollections make the era alive, and have been greatly influential in my choosing the early era for my modelling. The book is redolent with interest, character and flavour of the times.

In honour of Wal I assembled this short train and gave it a few laps around the layout in the down direction, heading out of town. It is typical of the kind of trains he enjoyed and described so well. From his book:

"Branch line travel in the days of steam was a wonderful way of life for the travelling rail fan.

One was never in a hurry and could relax at his window seat in the inevitable ancient carriage that, having outlived it's declining years on a slow and easy once-a-week branch line.

The fan would not just have the compartment to himself, he would often have the whole carriage...

...The train rumbled through the rural scene......The carriage would gently sway along, creaking at times....There would be the smell of smoke drifting back from the engine mingled with the never-to-be-forgotten odor of hot sun on the leather seats......"

(Excerpts from p. 39,40 - "Change Here For")

Rest well Wal, I look forward to meeting you one day.

Protection from the elements.

2009-10-13T04:04:00.000-07:00

The temporary (well, 50 odd years....) protection for passengers exiting the South side of Glenferrie and Auburn station has been built for Glenburn per the VR's plans.

The Wall & Thank You Ada

2009-10-06T03:43:00.001-07:00

Have commenced work on the Up (South) side of Glenburn station. Knowing that the Box Hill line would one day be tripled, VR kept this side of both Glenferrie and Auburn stations in this state from their building until the triplication. I have'nt found too many pictures that clearly show this side, however it is clear from plans such as that below what the layout was. This overall look will be replicated on Glenburn.

Non-existence of photographic record is a fact of life for modelling this era, however some sources do exist. In 1934 a gifted Melbourne artist placed her easel down, probably in the original (now) Swinburne University building and painted the following brilliant composition which is an excellent source of both detail and colour (Note that the scenery to be emplaced will cover up much of the base of the Dn end of the foundation wall).

(Courtesy & Copyright State Library of Victoria)

Sincere thanks to the late Ada May Plante.

Details, details..............

2009-09-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

At the rail side

2009-09-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

Catenary masts sufficiently in place, I can now continue building the inside (rail side) of Glenburn station. These pictures show the work in progress along the platform with surfacing, ramp fencing and parcels and waiting rooms added recently.

Toward the spark

2009-07-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

Electrification has commenced - I have been able to assemble a semblance of the characteristic VR catenary masts from a variety of sources including Sommerfeldt masts, ex-rail girders and various other pieces. Also included is the High Tension (HT) extensions added from 1925 to provide back up main power carriage, themselves characteristic of the eastern line through Auburn and Glenferrie. Thanks are due to Ian Weickhardt for helpful advice generously given.

Overdue fun!

2009-06-14T06:04:00.000-07:00

The basic main line now being emplaced per the layout plan above, time to run some trains!

On track...sort of....

2009-03-15T03:57:00.001-07:00

Track having just arrived, scenery work will take a break while I lay some track around the room.

A roll in the grass....

2009-02-15T03:03:00.000-08:00

Have grassed the embankment on the Up side of Glenburn with a combination of Silflor and Woodland Scenics materials.

Wired

2009-02-10T03:33:00.001-08:00

Wiring up on Glenburn Rd completes initial work on this section.

Even more details....

2009-02-03T01:28:00.001-08:00

PECO's 4mm 1926 Thornycroft is slightly overscale for Glenburn, however will be placed at the front of the layout thereby forcing perspective.

A typical VR advertising hoarding of the era, the Yates add dates from 1930.

Details, details

2009-01-26T01:44:00.000-08:00

Not too much time for major modelling lately so have worked on some detailing for Glenburn.

End of Shopping & Other Updates

2009-01-05T14:02:00.000-08:00

Final row of shops/offices for Glenburn Rd, these showing affects of the economic slowdown of the late 1920's/early 1930's with the shop on the right end To Let.

Holidays also mean time for some of the many small completions required across Glenburn including the alley behind the bookshop, corbels on some of the verandah posts and completing the bluestone pitching for the road gutter.

Proverbs 3:5-6

2008-12-28T02:48:00.000-08:00

" Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. "

Christmas break has allowed time to embed All Saints, Glenburn

Traffic

2008-12-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

Jordan Products 1926 Essex Coach kit was another joy to assemble but is perhaps just a little too clean.

.........and MORE shops

2008-12-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

Only one more set to go after this one. Less interior detail this time as it is toward the back of the layout.

All Saints

2008-12-02T13:42:00.000-08:00

In the older suburbs across Melbourne bluestone churches with sandstone highlights are signature emblems, the spires gracing many ridge and sight lines. Glenferrie's fine example is seen from the station below:

So, for All Saints,Glenburn I chose Kibri's "Westerwald" kit as the basis, and modified it from this:

(Photo: Kibri)

To this:

Congratulations to Kibri on one of the most enjoyable kits I have ever made, a very well engineered example of the kit builder's craft.

Retail Therapy

2008-11-16T02:50:00.000-08:00

2 (actually 1.3) more stores for Glenburn Rd - The full building is identical to the Tea Rooms on the Dn side as it is also a railway building built into the platform end, and the 0.3 bounds the baseboard edge.

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

2008-11-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

With all effort concentrated on Glenburn Rd, trains won't be running for a while....

Glenburn Rd Abridged

2008-11-01T17:40:00.001-07:00

My good (and well versed in VR matters) friend Mark Tregoning tells me Micro-Engineering's girder bridge is a very close match for the prototype. So here's one of the 100ft double track versions suitably modified to fit the gap over Glenburn Rd, and it certainly looks the part. The deck will be ballasted in the next round.

Home Turf

2008-10-27T03:55:00.000-07:00

An ex-Hawthorn Tramways Trust Maximum Traction Bogie tram (A JEM kit), modified from HTT form as a later M&MTB N Class is appropriate for Glenburn Rd's requirements in the mid 1930's.

I rarely get to make production kits, as Glenburn's requirements mean it has to be largely a scratchbuild, so found Jordan Product's 1928 A Model Ford quite a relief!

Tea Anyone?

2008-09-21T04:41:00.000-07:00

Both Glenferrie and Auburn stations incorporate VR built shops using the space under the end of the platform & tracks. I modified a Rix Products store for the purpose and extended the station's retaining wall to reach the platform end.

X marks the spot

2008-09-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

At the rail crossing over Glenburn Rd, I have recently installed the road and tram tracks from N gauge Code 55 rail. Hmmm...Girder bridge required here.

They're not my socks...honest!

2008-08-05T04:40:00.001-07:00

A weekend of rather unglamorous baseboard (9mm Marine Ply on cedar ladder base) and shelving work has established the remaining foundation for the layout around the room, with "Cudgewa - Shelley Railways" on the level below. As the rail near the door is sharp and at eye level my wife has contributed to safety with a fine donation of a pair of her socks.

Gardening

2008-07-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Recent works at Glenburn have embedded the station via ramping and subway, and added a few "poplars" (well, they're sort of close) behind the advertising hoarding.

Just a Facade

2008-07-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

Glenburn now painted and installed though looking a bit adrift without the approach ramps, and some more integration work to "sink" it into the baseboard....more modelling time please.....! Have included two pictures of Auburn and Glenferrie station facades below for those not familiar with the style - Glenburn is a smaller version with blended elements from the two stations.

In the Buff!

2008-06-29T14:36:00.001-07:00

Too big for my usual photo backdrop! - Glenburn station fascia - an assemblage of brick sheet, cardboard, styrene and wood, with some white metal and formed window detailing - was a bigger job than anticipated, and is shown sans paint....!

Space Now Taken

2008-05-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Space at Glenburn seems popular, some genuine Australian late 1920's-mid 1930's adverts have quickly filled the gap. The signal cable troughing has also been installed. Am making the most of this view now as this will be facing the rear of the layout!

Space for Rent

2008-05-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Replicating one of the billboards that used to be in situ at Auburn station, just need some adds, watch this space...

Hmmm - May have over-reduced the size of this picture!

Archery

2008-05-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Foundations for Glenferrie and Auburn stations include brick arching through the elevated road. In most cases these brick works are hidden from view, buried in the ground, however at the Dn end of Glenferrie's Dn platform the arching stands proud of the embankment supporting the platform as shown here. This section has now been modelled though the ground cover may need lightening, and I will need to find some poplars!

VR Overhead Dimensions - Many Thanks Ian Weickhardt

2008-05-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

Seeking data for modelling the overhead, Ian Weickhardt generously provided the dimensions which I've overlaid on the 1953 General Appendix diagram.

Forming the Plat

2008-05-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Current Glenburn task is to form up the platforms in the style of Auburn & Glenferrie - a brick base with an inverted concrete angle and concrete capping stone. Cleaner appearance is in line with the 1930's when graffiti existed, but not in this location.

Original Cast Members

2008-04-12T04:15:00.000-07:00

Originals and casts of some key elements of swingdoor rollingstock. I have tried to master & cast those items that allow the widest range of the many varieties of swingdoor. Fair to say that this layout would'nt have been realistically possible without casting, it is a significant setp forward for scratchbuilders. Must say I'm no master at it yet but with some work, the models seem to come up well enough.

Yes...but is it art?

2008-04-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

"Glenburn" is an elevated station, and as such the trackbed is elevated above the base supporting level. The plan view of the "Glenburn" baseboard above shows the elevated roadbed, with wing extensions for the Down (1) and Up (3) platforms. Openings have also been made for the platform ramps (2). The elevated roadbed gap at (4) is for an over-road bridge. Since this picture, cork tiling has been placed on the board to bring the trackbed up to prototypical elevation. Baseboards are my usual 9mm marine ply on top of a cedar-ladder frame.

Them's the brakes.......

2008-04-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

For suburban rollingstock, Steam Era's W car bogies need to be enhanced with fore and aft brake extensions. The bogie above takes the modification slightly further as it is built for a driving trailer, and as such also has wheel guards. For reasonable running clearance I have also attached the two sets of steps directly to this bogie rather than brace them off the carriage. The pre-painting photo above shows these changes.

Tell him he's dreaming......

2008-04-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Up late morning Passenger crosses a Dn suburban goods scuttling through Glenburn having been released from Flinders St yard following the end of the morning peak......sort of......

Placement of rolling stock on the new "Glenburn" baseboard as a way to try and get a feeling for what this section might look like, and understand where structures & features should be. Not to worry that the E is actually narrow gauge and the goods wagons are likewise borrowed from Shelley Railways' Cudgewa branch.....